Fab 5

WEBSITES FOR LAST-MINUTE SHOPPING

by Fiona Clarke

Having started your holidays shopping several months back, your intentions were good. But here you sit, just days away from Christmas, still needing to find presents for several VIPs on your list. No need to scurry around town in search of who knows what. Here are five sites worth a visit when you need a last-minute gift.

Foodies and gourmet cooks can never get their fill of high-quality, fine-good items. Whether it’s truffle-infused olive oil from Provence, balsamic vinegar from Modena or caviar fresh from the Caspian Sea, Dean & Deluca is a great source for upscale specialty items. They also offer tools and gadgets for preparing and serving food. Just shop their virtual aisles and, voilà, your presents will arrive from their New York headquarters overnight, gift-wrapped and ready-to-give.

For a gift that lasts the entire year, consider gifting a membership to one of our local treasures: Phoenix Art Museum, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Zoo, Heard Museum or Arizona Science Center. Or, opt for tickets to performances at Ballet Arizona, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, The Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera or Phoenix Theatre. Consult this website for a comprehensive list of the performing and visual arts groups in the Valley.

Needing something for a youngster? Whether you are shopping for your child, grandchild, nieces or nephews, you will find everything from toys and party clothing to puzzles and musical instruments. Instead of the standard Barbie doll, Lego set or video game this site offers more unique items like a tabletop bowling set, a wooden construction truck and a personalized, comfy kid-sized bean-bag chair.

The “Give Now Gift Card” puts a charitable twist on the old standby of gift card giving. You choose the dollar amount of the card and then the recipient peruses the organizations database of over 1.8 million nonprofits and selects where the donation should go. It’s a great way to teach a youngster the true spirit of giving as well as a reminder to all of us grownups what this season is really about.

For those who are inspired by style, fashion, art and design, a book from Assouline is an inspired choice. Assorted by theme and collections, their website makes it easy to find the perfect edition. Choose from some of their newest releases: Jewels of the Renaissance, Louis Vuitton Windows, Vintage Cars, Valentino: Mirabilia Romae, Dinner With Jackson Pollack: Recipes, Art & Nature, Dressing For The Dark, Epicurean Journeys and When Art Meets Design.